Lauric Acid: Miracle Acne Treatment?

by
Trudi Schrieber

If you’re one of over 40 million people in the U.S. that suffers from acne and you’ve been on what seems like an eternal search for a cure, in the near future you might just be in luck. University of California San Diego Ph.D. student Dissaya “Nu” Pornpattananangkul has discovered that lauric acid, found in coconut oil and human breast milk, when delivered to the skin-dwelling bacteria that causes acne as nano-scale bombs, can effectively kill the bacteria.

The system, called the smart delivery system, involves gold nano-particles attached to the lauric-acid-filled nano-bombs or liposomes (tiny bubbles made out of the same material as your cell’s membranes). These gold nano-particles help the liposomes locate acne-causing bacteria. When the liposomes reach the bacteria, the gold particles fall off, allowing the lauric-acid to interact with and kill the unwanted bacteria.

This treatment is not the first to market liposomes as aides for the body to combat various medical conditions. Liposomes filled with other disease-fighting drugs can be used to combat various conditions in the body. Researchers are hoping that liposomes applied directly to the skin will improve the treatment of many skin bacterial infections, not just acne.

While Pornpattananangkul’s method will still need to undergo extensive testing, but all of the components are either natural products or have been approved for clinical use. So, while the treatment is not yet available, it looks like a promising solution that may become a long-awaited solution to acne.

If you’re suffering from acne and have been unable to find a successful treatment, keep reading about the various acne treatments currently available to you, including IPL Photofacial, Laser Skin Rejuvenation, Chemical Peels, and Microdermabrasion.